A blog on the latest news and events for ACU faculty and staff
As a reminder, SLT has granted a bonus for all we have collectively accomplished this past year, in the form of two four-day weekends. One of the “bonus” days is Friday, May 28. With this additional day, ACU will be closed Friday, May 28 and Monday, May 31 to observe the holiday. We hope you can spend the long holiday weekend connecting with family and friends or just getting some much-needed rest.
We’ve created an ACU Human Resources Calendar so that you can easily see important dates like payday, holidays, open enrollment, etc. Be sure to add the HR calendar to your calendar.
Join us for Commencement this weekend as we celebrate our newest alumni. The ceremonies honoring both December 2020 and May 2021 graduates will be on Anthony Field in Wildcat Stadium.
Faculty and administrators who are participating should report to the Brown Family Club Level at Wildcat Stadium in full regalia and a mask at the following times:
The health and safety protocols for Commencement include the following:
Departmental and online program receptions will be after each ceremony on the football practice field south of the stadium. Signs will indicate where faculty and students from individual departments and online programs will gather. Bottles of water will be available.
Please use the Adoptions & Insight Portal (AIP) to submit your textbook adoptions for summer and fall. The link is also available under QuickLinks on myACU. As you may have heard, submitting textbook adoptions before finals week is even more important this year so that we can buy as many used copies from students as possible. This will also help us retain rental copies for use in the fall. The wholesale book market is seeing low inventory levels simply because COVID has impacted buybacks and the selling of used books over the last 12 months. Our wholesale partner, MBS Textbooks, is increasing a lot of buyback prices this semester so our students can benefit even more from selling their books at our buyback.
We will stop requiring classroom disinfection on May 1. Disinfection supplies will continue to be available in classrooms. The disinfection work assigned to faculty, staff, and students will conclude on April 30 and will not be required during finals week or after. Thanks to all the dedicated faculty, staff and students who disinfected classrooms during the fall and spring semesters!
As of May 1, the university has lifted the pandemic-related domestic travel restrictions and the restrictions on campus visitors. Faculty and staff should continue to use Concur to manage the travel approval process.
In FY22 most university travel budgets will remain at the same level they were in FY21, which is a 65% reduction from previous years. Unless a person is presenting at a conference, virtual attendance is encouraged.
Academic travel related to tenure and promotion is prioritized and has special consideration. Please contact your dean regarding unfunded T&P-related travel needs. The deans and the Provost’s Office will work with the Finance Office to identify funds for T&P-related travel.
As we continue to experience low cases of COVID-19 and a significant increase in the number of vaccines available, all employees are expected to return to their normal work schedule and on campus office effective Monday, May 3. We are grateful for the flexibility extended during the pandemic and look forward to all being together again. If you have a medical condition that inhibits your return please contact Human Resources to discuss whether you would like to request a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. A reasonable accommodation is designed to assist an employee in the performance of his or her job without placing an undue hardship on the University or posing a direct threat to the employee or to other individuals and are determined on a case-by-case basis. For example, reasonable accommodations may include offering the vaccination or providing an N-95 mask. Thank you for your dedication and work during this unprecedented time.
On Wednesday, April 28, ACU’s Title IX office invites you to participate in National Denim Day by wearing denim. Denim Day is a campaign to show “support to survivors by renewing our commitment to exposing harmful behaviors and attitudes surrounding sexual violence.” Read more about the origins of this campaign here. At ACU, we strive to comply with all applicable legal requirements prohibiting, preventing, and responding to sexual misconduct against any member of the ACU community. Moreover, as a Christian community, ACU has committed itself, unequivocally, to ensuring a working and learning environment in which the dignity of every individual is respected. Learn more about ACU’s Title IX and Sexual Misconduct policy and resources by visiting our website or contacting Sherita Nickerson.
As of March 23, 2021, anyone 16 and older is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District Clinics. (You must be 18 and older to register to receive the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines while those 16 and older may register to receive the Pfizer vaccine.) Online scheduling for COVID-19 Vaccine appointments is available here.
